"We have had very good demand for our home mortgage finance program. A lot of first-time homebuyers have been purchasing homes. Our loan demand is on a pace for 100-million dollars in loan volumes for the year. And it is the time of the year where we're now needing to replenish our supply of funds for this fall and going into next winter."

Bismarck, ND – Boost -- then buckle. That's the message of a statewide campaign that kicked off today (Tuesday) encouraging the use of automobile booster seats for smaller children.

Carol Holzer of the North Dakota Health Department says the campaign will encourage parents to use booster seats -- along with shoulder and lap belts -- for children who are between 40 and 80 pounds and up to 4 feet eight inches tall.

Holzer says booster seats should be considered part of the transition in child safety restraints.

Bismarck, ND – The state Industrial Commission has voted to release a preliminary study of breathing problems among children in Coal Country.

The study is a work-in-progress -- in that the results need to be subjected to a peer-review before being finalized. The Commission had been asked to release the preliminary study -- and Governor Hoeven was agreeable to that....

Bismarck, ND – Low-income North Dakota families who signed up for the state's fuel assistance program will see a rebate on last winter's heating costs.

The state Department of Human Services is distributing one-point-four million dollars in rebates to more than 14-thousand households. The refunds are part of a federal program that helps poor families pay high heating bills. It's called the "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program" -- and Ron Knutson is the director:

Fargo, ND – North Dakota Governor John Hoeven is thanking North Dakotans for their many expressions of generosity and concern in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. He says New York Governor George Pataki is requesting that people who want to help donate to the newly established New York State World Trade Center Relief Fund.

North Dakota Congressman Earl Pomeroy says that's how he and a lot of North Dakotans he's talked to in the past week say is the answer to how the United States should react to last week's terrorist attack.

Bismarck, ND – North Dakota Aeronautics Commission director Gary Ness says the new airport security procedures now in place remind him of what happened ten years ago.

"1991, Dessert Storm, we went to Level Four which changed the complexion, it was several months before the released it out. So those that remember '91, ten years ago, will remember the level of security and some of the inconveniences that come along with it."

Fargo, ND – Rebecca Coffey ? author of Unspeakable Truths and Happy Endings: Human Cruelty and the New Trauma Therapy ? says in times like these ? everyone needs to take care of the people they love. She makes several suggestions to parents on how to talk to children about trauma and difficult events.

Pages

All F-35s fighter jets deployed to the U.S. and its allies have been temporarily grounded following a crash of one of the aircraft in South Carolina last month.

In a statement, the F-35 Joint Program Office said the U.S. and its international partners had suspended flights of the Joint Strike Fighter, also known as the Lightening II, until a fleet-wide inspection of the aircraft's fuel tubes is completed.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi vowed this week to demand President Trump's tax returns if Democrats win control of the House of Representatives next month.

Pelosi, seeking to regain her gavel as House speaker after elections in November, told The San Francisco Chronicle editorial board that the move "is one of the first things we'd do — that's the easiest thing in the world. That's nothing."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has a message for Republican voters who are celebrating the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh: Get to the polls in November if you want more conservatives sitting on judicial benches.

The remains of Matthew Shepard, whose death became an important symbol in the fight against homophobia — and whose name is on a key U.S. hate-crime law — will be interred at Washington National Cathedral later this month.

Shepard's parents say they're "proud and relieved to have a final resting place for Matthew's ashes."

Thursday, October 11 – We preview this month’s episode of “Why” Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life” with host Jack Russell Weinstein, UND professor of philosophy. This month his guest is professor Derek Black as they explore the question, “Is there a right to education and literacy?” ~~~ Dave Thompson joins us a day early for our weekly news chat. ~~~ A Plains Folk essay from Tom Isern titled “The Power of Serving.” ~~~ Sue Balcom’s topic this week is apples. ~~~ Doug and Ashley...